Drought in Turkana

​Drought and nutrition are linked. The more drought persist the nutrition status of a population deteriorates. In most cases malnutrition rises especially in semi arids areas. Furthermore drought have significant health concerns.

Poor Air Quality

Drought reduces the air quality posed health risks to the people as result of dry soil dusts and pollen grains floating in the air causing Asthma and other acute respiratory diseases.

A photo : showing Dust floating in the air

Poor water quality

In semi arid underground water tend to turn more saline. The higher the extent of drought the more the level of evaporation hence accumulation of salt causing salinity, therefore poor water quality. Also water table tend to be very low causing water scarcity. Some time people are forced to trek for long distance to get somehow wholesome water due inaccessibility to water point

River TurkwelChildren fetching water from R. Turkwel

Malnutrition

Malnutrition cases escalates during drought. The indicators for acute malnutrition is depicted by muscle wasting and loss weight among under five. Malnourished children have increased susceptibility and vulnerability to co-morbidities due to reduce immune to fight against and shield them against infections. The most important warning signs of drought which likely to be detected and reported by meteriological department to National drought management Authority for immediate action and response to mitigate encroaching drought include the following.

livestock death

-Water shortage

-The

Dead Animal

re are a lot of hot sunny days

– Only a little amount of water has occurred during the month

– Plants trees and grass are starting to turn brown

– Water levels in lakes are low and starts to become an emergency i. e Lake Turkana